The NATO Defense College delegation has flown to the United States, beginning the transatlantic portion of Field Study 1. On 29 September 2023, Course Members visited the UN Headquarters, in New York City, where they attended a series of high-level security and defence briefings, addressing future challenges for UN peacekeeping operations and prospects for greater UN-NATO cooperation in this field.
NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen introduced Ambassador Adrian Hauri, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland, who, after delivering a welcome address to Senior Course 143, briefed the delegation on his country’s work within the UN, and in particular in the Security Council. The senior diplomat highlighted Switzerland’s commitment to promoting international peace within the Council, underscoring that this is considered a priority for his country, together with the protection of civilians in international conflicts. Amb. Hauri then spoke about peacekeeping missions and how Switzerland is supporting those engagements, before answering questions by Course Members on how to improve the prevention of conflicts; the future of peacekeeping operations; how to increase the UN’s role in Africa and many others. Before leaving, Amb. Hauri received the NDC’s crest from LGEN Nielsen, to thank him for the time he had dedicated to the NDC.
The academic session continued with a panel discussion on “Challenges for UN Peacekeeping”, with a panel composed of three Military Advisers from the Permanent Missions of France, the US and the UK: Brigadier General Vincent de Kytspotter, French Military Adviser, Colonel Brian Dunn, US Military Adviser, and Colonel Carl Harris, UK Military Adviser. The panellists started by giving Course Members some “food for thought”, speaking about the importance of abstention and how it negatively impacts the decision-making process of the Security Council: “Absence of unanimity puts peacekeepers in dangerous situations”, stated the officials. They also emphasized the way peacekeeping activities, led by the Security Council, are able to strengthen the UN’s credibility, pointing out that it is necessary to think about how to do more and better, particularly as regards managing resources. The Russian aggression against Ukraine and peacekeeping operations in Africa were also touched upon by the panellists in their presentations. During the Q&A session, Course Members sought to learn more from the Military Advisers about training and preparation, based on lessons learned from peacekeeping operations, and about China-Russia military cooperation, especially in Africa.
The next presentation was an overview of Swiss political activities in the UN, delivered by Colonel Marc A. Stritt, Switzerland’s Military Adviser, who began by remarking on the unpredictability and instability of the global situation nowadays, which impacts on the work of the Security Council. He went on to give some insights into the status of neutrality maintained by Switzerland, as the oldest neutral state in the world, and into the country’s capacity to defend its territory, highlighting how Switzerland views security and defence as a priority. The speaker also explained that Switzerland joined the UN in 2002, after 55% of Swiss citizens voted in favour of membership, and he specified the priorities that Switzerland strives to promote within the UN Security Council: building sustainable peace, protecting civilians, addressing climate security and enhancing effectiveness. Some of the questions addressed by Course Members during Q&A related to peacekeeping missions and how the UN can bolster them, but also Switzerland’s neutrality status and how that status can interfere with UN cooperation.
Subsequently, Brigadier General Nazmul Haq, Chief of Staff, Office of Military Affairs, UN Department of Peace Operations, delivered a presentation on the UN role and experience in conflict prevention, the sustaining of peace, and the current and future environment. The briefer focused on peacekeeping operations (PKOs), giving an overview of current PKOs, outlining challenges as well as the legal framework and principles which govern these operations, and providing some details on the different types of PKOs. BGEN Haq then moved to the structure of the operational authority, which is the Office of the Military Adviser, describing roles, priorities and tasks. The academic session ended with a Q&A period, where Course Members enquired about the future of PKOs; partnership with NATO; cooperation with the African Union and private security companies operating in the same field as forces conducting PKOs.
In the afternoon, the NDC delegation visited the 69th Regiment Armory, a historic National Guard building located in Manhattan, New York City, where 1st Battalion Commander, 69th Infantry Regiment, LTC Shawn Tabankin kindly welcomed the visitors and provided them with some historical background.
NDC Public Affairs Office
NATO Defense College